The CIA drone attack that killed an American hostage held by al-Qaeda in Pakistan, and the relentless daily bombing of Isis in Iraq and Syria, have served as grim reminders to the American public that the US remains at war in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
The death of Warren Weinstein in January was a tragic case of collateral damage; a sad consequence of President Obama’s expanded armed drone war against terrorists, and his policy of targeting America’s enemies only from the air — the killing of Osama bin Laden by Navy Seals being one of the few exceptions.
Mr Obama came to power promising to end America’s involvement in ground wars and to bring troops home, and he has largely succeeded.